Use of traditional and complementary medicine among palliative care patients: its association with pain, functional dependence, and patient attitudes
Şenay Demir Yazıcı1, Yasemin Özkan1, Ecem Ersungur2, Muammer Korkut3, Hilal Bektas Uysal41Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Türkiye2Soke Vocational School of Health Services, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Türkiye
3Aydin Vocational School of Health Services, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Türkiye
4Department of Internal Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Aydın, Türkiye
INTRODUCTION: This study aims to examine the use of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) in palliative care patients; its relationship with pain intensity, levels of functional dependence, and attitudes toward complementary treatments; and to evaluate patients' willingness to share these practices with healthcare professionals.
METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the palliative care unit of a medical faculty hospital between May and July 2025. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional status with the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index, and attitudes toward complementary medicine with the Attitudes Towards Using Complementary Treatments Scale (ACTS).
RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were included, of whom 73.6% reported using at least one officially recognized T&CM method. Family was the most common source of information (50.5%), and musculoskeletal pain was the primary reason for use (82.8%). Most patients (81.2%) did not disclose T&CM use to healthcare professionals. No significant relationship was found between the level of dependence and ACTS scores (p=0.547). While no significant association was observed between T&CM use and pain intensity or functional dependence (p=0,386 and 0,657), ACTS scores were significantly higher among users of phytotherapy (p=0.001), cupping therapy (p=0.029), osteopathy (p=0.001), reflexology (p=0.049), and music therapy (p=0.016).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study shows that T&CM use is common among palliative care patients, independent of pain intensity and functional dependency, and is largely associated with individual attitudes. Limited disclosure of T&CM practices to healthcare professionals underscores the need to routinely address T&CM use in palliative care assessments.
Keywords: Palliative care, traditional and complementary medicine, functional status, pain, patient attitude.
Manuscript Language: English
(1 downloaded)